George whitaker



@1ritin tant garant {fita-d DISTRIBUTING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: i

Be it known that I, GEORGE WHITKER, of Lewistown, in the county of Fulton, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved Distributing Table; and I do herebydeclare that the following isa full, clear,

and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

The present invention relates to a new and useful table, especially designed for the distribution and assortment of mail matter, although it can -be applied to other andvarious similar purposes; and it consists in constructing the table of a box form, and with a series of 'boxes or spouts along'its sides or edges, whether one or more, made of a hoppershape at their upper ends, and at their other or lower'ends provided with hooks or other suitable means for hanging upon them a bag or sack or other receptacle to receive and hold the mail or other matter which may be thrown into them; these boxes or spouts each being marked in any suitable manner to indicate such portions of the mail or other matter which is to be placed in them.

In accompanying plate of drawings my improved vdistributing table is illustrated.

Figure I being a plan view of the under side of the same; and

Figur-e 2 a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line :v rv, tig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A in thel drawings represents the table, which -is made of a box form, and is to be supported at its four corners upon legs, B B, or any other suitable supports. Along the back or rear side, C, and the two ends, D, of this table A, a series of similar spouts or boxes, E, are secured and arranged at short distances apart, which boxes orspouts project at their upper ends, F, a little above the table, and are made of a hopper shape, as plainly shown in iig. 2, at G, and extend down a short distance below the bottom of the table, at which end they are provided around their side with a series of hooks, a, suitable for hanging to them the mouth of abag or sack or other receptacle adapted to receive and hold mail or other matter, one oi' these bags being represented in red, in

Aig. 2. Nearrthe lower end oi'ieach of the table-spouts or boxes, E, a cover, H, is arranged upon'the under-'side of the Vbottom of the table, one to each spout, and each in suitable position for being slid across the spout to i which it belongsfor the purpose lof closing the same when not desired to use it, or in case the number of bags or sacksat hand should be less in number than that of the boxes which are being used. Each of the boxesor spouts, E, attheir upper or hopper ends, it is intendedto mark in any suitable manner,lto indicate what portion of the mail or other matter is to be placed in them; and in order to render ea'ch of them susceptible of beingused for various places' at different times; I have arranged a frame .or rack, I, to receive the cards indicating the place, which frame isof suitable construction to contain one or more cards, and to allow the front or exposed card'to be changed and another inserted in its place. J, a table-leafl secured to the front side, which in the present instance .is shown as fixed, but may be attached tothe table m such a manner as to be susceptible oi' being swung up and there supported when desired to be used, or swung down and out ofthe way when not used; this lid being provided for the reception of the cancelling stamp and other appurtenances necessary for use in the cancelling of the stamps of mail matter more especially the said stamp and other appurtenances, when not in use, being placed in the box, L, of the table provided for their reception and storage, to which box a swinging lid or cover, M, is hunger attached. By forming the table cfa box form, it is adapted to the reception of the mail or other matter which is to be assorted.

From the above description of my improved distributing table, it is plain to be seen that it is not only exceedingly simple in construction, but quite convenient for use, and, especially in the assortment of mail matter,

of great importance and utility.-

lI claim as new, and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent- A table made of abox form, `and provided with a series of spouts or boxes, E, around its sides, either one or more, having hooks, a, or other means at their lower ends suitable for suspending-a bag or sack or other receptacle thereto, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

I also claim the combination with the table boxes E, of the racks or frames I, for receiving and holding the cards indicatingthe portions of mail or other matter to be placed in the'same, substantially as described.

GEORGE WHITAKER.

Witnesses H. C. ABERNATHY, NATHAN Hicks. 

